Aviation Ambitions Take Flight in Lomé: The African Air Transport Convention 2026
Aviation Ambitions Take Flight in Lomé: The African Air Transport Convention 2026
Lomé, Togo, is set to become a pivotal hub for the aviation sector as it prepares to host the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 from June 15 to June 19, 2026. Organized by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in close collaboration with the African Union Commission, this monumental event aims to strengthen the fabric of the continent's aviation landscape and expedite the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
With the backdrop of Togo's President, H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, serving as the high patronage for the convention, the event is expected to convene over 500 participants, comprising stakeholders from governments, regulatory bodies, airlines, airports, investment firms, and development institutions across Africa and beyond.
The program foresees an intensive five-day agenda split into various thematic focuses:
- - Day 1: A high-level opening, addressing SAATM implementation and air transport affordability.
- - Day 2: Concentration on air cargo, corridor-based route development, and enhancing mobility and facilitation strategies.
- - Day 3: Discussions on aviation investments, infrastructure needs, and sustainability in air transport.
- - Day 4: A dive into innovation, technology advancement, and human capital development.
- - Day 5: Validation of outcomes alongside partnerships and a formal closure.
High-ranking officials are confirmed to participate, including H.E. Ms. Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union, and H.E. Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of AfCFTA. The convention will also host representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI) Africa and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The discussions are set to cover crucial strategic objectives, such as reducing aviation-related taxes and fees, enhancing intra-African connectivity, and improving financing mechanisms for aviation infrastructure. Additionally, there will be a keen focus on digital transformation and support for developing Sustainable Aviation Fuels aligned with the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General of AFCAC, heralded the event as a defining moment for African aviation, emphasizing its potential to take decisive actions toward a connected aviation sector that can catalyze trade and economic development throughout the continent. She expressed, “This event is more than a gathering — it is where ambition meets action.”
Participants can expect to engage in various interactive formats, including ministerial roundtables, executive dialogues, bilateral meetings, and investment sessions, all designed to facilitate productive exchanges and collaborations.
The outcomes anticipated from the convention include the Lomé Ministerial Declaration, the launch of the African Route Development Platform (ARDP), and the establishment of new investment pipelines that will enhance cooperation mechanisms within Africa's aviation market.
For more details and registration information, interested parties can visit AFCAC Expo Registration. This convention promises to pave the way for a vibrant, integrated, and sustainable African aviation landscape, reflecting the diverse opportunities and ambitions of the continent's aviation stakeholders.
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